breerashel's review against another edition
2.0
While I agreed with a few of the reviews in the book, I found my attention wandering during the whole of the book. Roger Ebert writes as if he were a college professor of film which makes for a boring book. He makes even the most exciting movie sound boring. He talks quite a bit about the technical details of the movies that he lists when I would rather hear about why he appreciated the plot and acting abilities of the actors/actresses. He does mention those things but sense I am not nor have I ever been a film student it is difficult for me to comprehend many of the points that he makes about many of the films. I think that this book would be great for film students but it just wasn't something that I enjoyed. I love movies but his writing makes me want to read more rather than watch a movie. He makes movies sound dull. I also disagreed with many of his choices such as Citizen Kane. I will never understand why some people love that movie so much. I think that it is overrated and dull.
To be fair, I knew that I was going to disagree with many of his opinions which is why I picked The Greatest Movies to represent my nonfiction you feel you will disagree with category for the reading challenge I am participating in. Roger Ebert is famous for trashing movies and having controversial views. He either seems to like things that others think are awful or hate things that other people enjoy.
https://fictionedtodeath.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-great-movies-great-movies-by-roger.html
To be fair, I knew that I was going to disagree with many of his opinions which is why I picked The Greatest Movies to represent my nonfiction you feel you will disagree with category for the reading challenge I am participating in. Roger Ebert is famous for trashing movies and having controversial views. He either seems to like things that others think are awful or hate things that other people enjoy.
https://fictionedtodeath.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-great-movies-great-movies-by-roger.html
mtbunker's review against another edition
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
jmarryott23's review against another edition
4.0
*I read the chapters for movies that I’ve seen, which is a little less than half of the 100. I’m somewhat of a film buff but the fact I had seen only about 45 of the movies shows how deep into film lore Ebert goes. But I guess that makes it fun - he isn’t just saying these are the best/most popular movies, he sometimes picks obscure movies to bring light to them*
This was so great because the write ups within weren’t standard reviews - they were a deeper analysis that often expected you to have seen and remembered the movie. There are spoilers throughout, which is something film reviewers so often have to avoid and thus can’t go in-depth when reviewing at release.
You feel like you are watching the movies with Ebert. You can feel his love of cinema constantly by the way he discusses the films. I learned a lot, both behind the scenes and in things within the films that you could easily miss. I didn’t always agree with Ebert, but I always respected what his opinion was - it carried weight and it still does after his passing. I will read the other iterations of Great Movies.
This was so great because the write ups within weren’t standard reviews - they were a deeper analysis that often expected you to have seen and remembered the movie. There are spoilers throughout, which is something film reviewers so often have to avoid and thus can’t go in-depth when reviewing at release.
You feel like you are watching the movies with Ebert. You can feel his love of cinema constantly by the way he discusses the films. I learned a lot, both behind the scenes and in things within the films that you could easily miss. I didn’t always agree with Ebert, but I always respected what his opinion was - it carried weight and it still does after his passing. I will read the other iterations of Great Movies.
yaki78's review against another edition
3.0
Started with reading every movie, even if I hadnt seen it. But then I realised it wasnt adding much value. For the movies I had seen, it was a new perspective. Ebert is def one of the finest observers of cinema!
baxtervallens's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
dankeohane's review against another edition
4.0
This is a really good collection of short essays by my absolute favorite film reviewer, Roger Ebert. I say essays because these don't seem to be reviews but rather revisits to his favorite films. He rewatched all of them and wrote his thoughts, so it gives some insight into his tastes and dislikes, and opens up new films for us to see which we haven't. There are some spoilers in them, so when I began to read and found myself wanting to see a movie Ihadn't yet seen, I'd stop reading and go back to it another time. This has been on the shelf as casual readings most of last year. Very enjoyable.
colonel2sheds's review against another edition
5.0
I defy you to read this book and not be excited to watch these films. The enthusiasm the they're spoken of with is contagious.
crankylibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Luminous essays on what Ebert finds stirring or poignant or simply beautiful in great movies. The essays offer new insights, but also that sweet nudge of recognition, as he articulates precisely what you love about an actor or a scene "Yes...that's exactly what it feels like..."
A wonderful gift for movie lovers
A wonderful gift for movie lovers
lstmemery's review against another edition
5.0
I grew up reading Ebert's reviews but this is the first I read of his criticism. The films selected are a mix of the canonical (Casablanca and Star Wars) to the obscure (Woman in the Dunes and Greed) and all his essays are insightful and warm. It has put new films on my "to watch" list and given me a deeper understanding of the films I already love.